Greek protests turn violent as EU warns of default

Anti-austerity protests turned violent in Athens on Tuesday as the European Union warned Greek lawmakers the country faces immediate default unless they back an unpopular economic plan this week.

Hooded youths throwing stones and wielding sticks set fire to garbage bins and a telecoms truck outside parliament and riot police fired teargas to disperse them. Trade unions began a 48-hour strike against the EU/IMF-imposed measures.

Progress was meanwhile reported in talks to persuade European banks and insurers to voluntarily roll over maturing Greek debt as part of a planned second rescue package designed to give the euro zone country a breathing space.